Press for tennis and like rackets



Dec. 30, 1930. I v R. PURCELL 1,736,577

PRESS FOR TENNIS AND LIKE RACKETS Filed July 11 1928 Per-2 ATTORNEYS II INVEHTDQ Psusew PURCELL Fatented Dec. 3%, .1930

srss

PATET FFECE PRESS FOR TENNIS AND LIKE RACKETS Application filed July 11, 1928, Serial No. 291,845, and in Great Britain July 13, 1927.

My invention comprises an improved press for tennis and like rackets of the type in which the head of the racket is clamped in order to prevent distortion whilst not in use.

5 The object of this invention is to provide a simple and compact form of press which may be easily and quickly applied to or removed from the racket and in which the op eration of clamping and unclamping the 1' press may be performed by a simple movemerit. A further object is to enable the press to fold into a small space when not in use.

According to my invention a tennis racket or like press consists of a pair of bodies between which the racket is adapted to be gripped, the invention being characterized in that means for efiect-ing the requisite pressure on the frame of the racket is located approximately opposite the centre of the frame when the press is applied to the frame but does not pass through the stringing of the frame whereby pressure may be applied to a number of points on the frame from a common point and the press can he slipped over 75 the frame without disassembling its parts.

In a preferred construction of my invention, the two frames may conveniently be of substantially X-shape and each may consist of a pair of transverse members or strips of channel form pivoted together at their centres. From the outer ends of each transverse member or strip a suitable connecting link extends between the two frames. These links may conveniently be metal strips secured at :5 one end to one frame and projecting through an opening or slot in the members of the other frame. Suitable springs or rubber sleeves or other resilient material may be arranged n around these links and between the members of the two frames so as to tend to force them apart. These rubber sleeves or springs also act as a protection for the edges of the racket so as to prevent damage when inserting it into or removing'it from the frame.

" The ends of the connecting links, which project through openings in the ends of the members of one frame, are bent over or suitably shaped to permit them to engage over M the end of a lever, one of whichextends 1nwardly from each of the ends of the two together at their centres, this enables them frame members. These levers comprise suitable bent metal strips which rest upon the upper face of the frame member at their bent portion whilst the short upwardly bent ortion engages over the underturned end 0 the as connecting links and the long arms of the lever project inwardly toward the centre of the frame. The inner free ends of the levers engage'beneath suitable means for forcing them toward the frame of the press. These 60 means may conveniently comprise a screwthreaded nut mounted upon a screw secured in the frame and provided with a knurled edge by which it may be rotated by hand to actuate the levers. 65

When the knurled nut is unscrewed the rubber sleeves round the connecting links will force the two frames apart causing the levers to turn about their bent portions which act as a fulcrum where they engage upon the frame members. The free end of the levers will thus follow the movement of the screwthreaded nut as it is released. When this nut is released the frames will be separated a sufficient distance to permit the head of a racket to be easily inserted between the two frames or removed therefrom. When a racket has been placed in position between the two frames it may be firmly clamped in position by simply rotating the nut on the screw so as te press the free ends of the levers in towards their frame members. This will draw the two frames together and clamp the head of the racket between-them. The only connection between the two frames is their outer ends by means of the connecting links which'will be located beyond the edges of the racket. There are no connections passing through the racket thus enabling the racket to he quickly removed directly the pressure etween the two frames has been sufficiently released.

By arranging the two c-ross'members of each of the frames to be pivotally connected to be folded into a small space when not in use and also allows them to swivel on each other when placed in position on a racket so that the frame may adapt itself to the shape of the racket head. The frame members may conveniently be made of channel section and may consist of aluminium or other suitable metal stampings. If desired suitable additional stiffening bars may be secured in the channelled members of the frames. These may conveniently consist of short steel or OtllGDStIlPS secured at their centres. The cennecting links between the two frames may conveniently comprise metal stampings secured to the members of one frame by passing their ends through apertures in the frame members and secured by means of suitable pins or notched keys passed transversely through holes in the ends of the links. This permits of adjustment for difl'erent thickness of rackets. Suitable washers may be arranged between these two pins and the frame members.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I have appended hereto asheet of drawings illustrating an embodiment of same, and wherein Fig. 1 is plan view showing the pressin use. 7 T 1 Z Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the'press.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view, and

Fig. at is a'detail sectional elevation to a larger scale showing one corner of the frame and taken on he line 'KB of Fig. 1.

1 Referring to the drawings the press consists of two fa-mes consisting of a pair of intersecting upper arms 1 and a pair of intersecting lower arms 2. Each pair of arms 1 and 2 are connected by pivot pins 1a and 2a respectively, the lower pin 2a preferably being riveted in posit-ion and the ripper pin 1a being extended above the members 1 in the form of a screw 3 on which i engaged a wing nut 4 the operation of which applies pressure to the outer ends of the intersecting arms for gripping the racket. It will be noticed that the pin 1a dees not extend across the members 1 and 2 sothat there is no interference to the introduction ofa racket into the press without disassembling the press.

The requisite pressure is obtained by a series of levers 5 each engaged at one end under the nut 4, or preferably, under a washer 6 located under the nut and free to slide on the screw 3. The fulcrum point of these levers is near to their outer ends, and is approximately at the point 7 (Figs. 2 and a). The outer ends of the levers are turned up to form toes 8 each engaged under the hook shaped upper end 9 of one of a number of links 10 passed slidably throu h holes 11 in the outer ends of the arms 1 @1152. The lower end of each link 10 is held against movement relative to the appro' riate arm 2 and a coiled spring 12 disposed a out each link 10 exerts a. separating action on the two sets, of arms 1 and 2 and also maintains the inner end of each lever 5 pressed against the base of the washer 6. By this means if the nut 1 is slackened the springs 12 will increase the space between the said two frames and permit of easy introduction or removal of the racket, but if the nut 4 is tightened it will depress the inner ends of the levers 5 and raise the links 10 with a reduction in the space between the two frames.

In view of the variation in thickness of some tennis racket frames it is desirable to enable the maximum space between the mem' bers 1 and 2 to be readily varied, and this can be effected by introducing cotter pins 13 through slots 14 in the lower ends of the links 10, each cotter pin having one or more steps 15 whereby the width of the cotter pin in the slot 11- can be varied.

The members 1 and '2 are preferably formed of channel section metal as shown, each member 1 and 2 having at its centre a flat portion 16 to provide flush engaging surfaces, these surfaces if necessary being fitted with hard wearing meta-l strips 17 having polished or smooth surfaces, each strip 17 being extended for a short distance along the channel parts of an arm 1 or 2 and formed with a raised portion 18 to increase the strength of the arms at these points and to render them stiffer to withstand bending. The levers 5 can also be of channel section metal.

A press for tennis and like rackets constructed according to my invention may be made in a simple, cheap and compact form. It will effectively maintain the shape of the racket which may be easily placed in or removed from the press by one simple quick movement.

1. A press for tennis rackets con'iprising two frames each consisting of a pair of rigid bars intersecting each other at about their centres so as to produce two X shaped frames, a pivot pin passed through the intersecting parts of each of the frames so that the ends of the bars of each frame may be moved towards and away from each other, an abutment threaded on one of said pivot pins, links connecting the outer ends of the two frames, abutments on said links, levers lying along the bars of one of the X shaped frames and engaged with said threaded abutment and the abutments of said links.

2. A press for tennis rackets con'iprisiug two frames each consisting of a pair of channel section bars intersecting each other at about their centres, flat opposing faces on the bars at their points of intersection, pivot pins through such points of intersection so that the ends'of the bars of each frame may be moved towards and away from each other, an abutment threaded on one of said pivot pins, links connecting the outer ends of the two frames, abutnients on said links, levers lyiiig airing the bar's or one at the X shaped frames and engaged with said threaded abutment and the abutments of said links.

3. A press for tennis rackets comprising two frames each consisting of a pair of rigid bars intersecting each other at about their centres so as to produce two X shaped frames, a pivot pin passed through the intersecting parts of each of the frames so that the ends of the bars of each frame may be moved to- Wards and away from each other, an abutment threaded on one of said pivot pins, links connecting the outer ends of the two frames, abutments on said links, levers lying along the bars of one of the X shaped frames and engaged with said threaded abutment and the ahutments of said links, and coiled compression springs between the outer ends of said frames.

4. A press for tennis rackets comprising two frames each consisting of a pair of rigid bars intersecting each other X fashion at their centres so that two X shaped frames are provided. a screw passing through the centre of one of the frames, a nut on said screw, levers radiating from and engaged under said nut and lying along the said bars of one frame, fulcrum bends near the outer ends of said levers engaging the said frame, links slidable through the outer ends of said frame and connected to the outer ends of the other frame, abutments on said links engaged by the outer ends of said levers, springs tending to separate said frames, and flat engaging faces at the intersecting points of each of said frames.

REUBEN PURCELL. 

